eracode: Have been craving one of these for some time after seeing the gsmarena review mentioned in the OP. Seriously cool phone - only the Android 2.2 HTC Evo 4G (being released in US on 4 June) might be better but not sure if it would work here.

The HTC Evo 4G is dual band CDMA on the Sprint network :( so won't work, I would be expecting a few more for Verizon, AT&T to come soon though. The battery life on the Evo has been regarded by many as one of the worst however.

Also it's releasing just like the i9000 with 2.1, 2.2 is to come later. Since HTC need to rework the Sense UI to work with Froyo 2.2

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Vodafone UK have confirmed availability in store next Monday so I will be picking up one of the 16GB versions of these Monday after work. Work pay for my mobile tariff so nice new free handset for me and giving my I8910 to the GF :)

I wont be posting a review next week as I am out of the country for work a lot of the week, but if folks want some specific questions answered prior to NZTF delivering his usual comprehensive review I would be happy to oblige.

NZtechfreak: Will of course post up a review, as I usually do on receipt of a new handset. Will be interesting to compare and contrast it to my current HTC Desire, and the X10 I already sold (and if people are keen with the HD2 I had before).

envy!! do you pay for all the phones yourself?

the rate at which smartphones are being released is kind of alarming, but in a good way. if i hadn't already ordered my htc desire, i would have been tempted to buy the galaxy s instead (or the nokia n8, which is also looking pretty good).

This is to advsie that the Samsung i9000 Galaxy S is due in stock today.The Galaxy S will begin shipping from tomorrow at our market leading price.http://www.unlocked-mobiles.com/sim-free-mobile-phones/samsung-i9000-galaxy-s-sim-free-unlocked-mobile-phone-p-60773.html